Apparatus for charging a pressurized system

ABSTRACT

An apparatus ( 22 ) for charging a pressurized system ( 24 ) comprising a lubricant canister ( 26 ). A facility ( 28 ) is for fluidly coupling the lubricant canister ( 26 ) to the pressurized system ( 24 ). An assemblage ( 30 ) is for forcing lubricant ( 32 ) out of the lubricant canister ( 26 ), through the fluidly coupling facility ( 28 ) and into a service valve ( 34 ) of the pressurized system ( 24 ).

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/003,021, filed Jan. 5, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,050,310, which is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/710,486,filed Sep. 18, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,636, the entire contents ofeach which are hereby incorporated by reference and relied upon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The instant invention relates generally to the field of pressurizedfluid systems and more specifically it relates to an apparatus forcharging a pressurized system. The purpose of the charging apparatus isto provide the technician with a simple method of injecting apredetermined amount of lubricant into a pressurized system.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Numerous pressurized fluid systems have been provided in prior art thatare adapted to operate optimally within a certain pressure range. If theinternal pressure falls below this range, the system needs to berecharged with an appropriate lubricant. While these units may besuitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they wouldnot be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention asheretofore described.

There does not presently exist a cost effective way to accomplish thetask of inserting a predetermined amount of lubricant into a pressurizedsystem. Added to this, is the fact that when a technician arrives onsite they are faced with a myriad number of systems with serviceconnection access ranging from the accessible to the acrobatic and oftencramped working conditions.

Some systems contain a combination of fluids. For example, airconditioning and refrigerant (the primary fluid) in combination with alubricating oil (the secondary fluid) for the compressor and othercritical components. The lubricating oil is generally present in fairlyfluid. The quantities, usually less than 5% of the total fluid. Thepresent invention provides for the introduction of these secondaryfluids into systems charged with the primary fluids.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The preferred embodiment of the present invention includes an injectiondevice with a receptacle portion for receiving a disposable or reusablelubricant canister and a connector assembly for attaching the lubricantcanister to the pressurized system. It is a further aim of the presentinvention not to limit the mechanical means of lubricant delivery justto hand pressure, but to provide other embodiments using various typesof hand tools and structures to accomplish the delivery of the lubricantto the pressurized system.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus forcharging a pressurized system that will overcome the shortcomings of theprior art devices.

Another object is to provide an apparatus for charging a pressurizedsystem that will allow a technician to inject a predetermined amount oflubricant into the pressurized system.

It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a method andapparatus for charging a pressurized air conditioning/refrigeration linewith a lubricant and/or dye from a closed, non-pressurized chargingcartridge containing a predetermined amount of such lubricant and/ordye.

An additional object is to provide an apparatus for charging apressurized system which can be readily carried to a site, be easilyoperated, and can deliver a measured amount of lubricant into thepressurized system.

A further object is to provide an apparatus for charging a pressurizedsystem that is simple and easy to use.

A still further object is to provide an apparatus for charging apressurized system that is economical in cost to manufacture.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the descriptionproceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this inventionmay be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings,attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings areillustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specificconstruction illustrated and described within the scope of the appendedclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the presentinvention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes betterunderstood when considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which like reference characters designate the same orsimilar parts throughout the several views, and wherein;

FIG. 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of the injection device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line 3—3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side of the lubricant canister in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along line 5—5 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the connector assembly in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a top view taken in the direction of arrow 7 in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an end view taken in the direction of arrow 8 in FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a second embodiment of the connector assembly.

FIG. 10 is an end view taken in the direction of arrow 10 in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a top view taken in the direction of arrow 11 in FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 a perspective view of a second embodiment of the injectiondevice.

FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view taken along line 13—13 in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged cross sectional view of an area in FIG. 13 asindicated by arrow 14.

FIG. 15 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 13, showing a singlepawl mechanism to propel the toothed central shaft in the injectiondevice.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the injectiondevice.

FIG. 17 is a cross sectional view taken along line 17—17 in FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 16, showing a socketwrench to turn the operating screw in the injection device.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 18, showing a transversehandle to turn the operating screw in the injection device.

FIG. 20 is a cross sectional view of a fourth embodiment of theinjection device, whereby compressed gas is introduced within a chamberto drive the piston forward in the lubricant canister.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistentlythroughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar referencecharacters denote similar elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1illustrates the present invention being an apparatus 22 for charging apressurized system 24. With regard to the reference numerals used, thefollowing numbering is used throughout the various drawing figures.

22 charging apparatus 24 pressurized system 26 lubricant canister of 2228 fluidly coupling facility of 22 30 lubricant forcing assemblage of 2232 lubricant of 26 34 service valve of 24 36 tubular casing of 26 38threaded nozzle of 26 on 36 40 recessed double O-ring piston of 26 in 3642 transparent material for 36 44 gradient marking on 36 46 threaded capof 26 on 38 47 connector assembly for 28 48 flexible conduit of 47 50threaded fitting of 47 on 48 52 release valve of 47 on 48 54 one-waycheck valve of 47 56 closeable control knob of 52 58 snap lock fittingof 52 60 threaded fitting of 52 62 injection device for 30 64 housing of62 66 receptacle portion of 64 68 drive mechanism of 30 70 hand grip of68 72 trigger of 68 74 central drive shaft of 68 76 cylindrical head of68 on 74 78 first pawl of 64 80 spring of 78 82 second pawl of 64 84spring of 82 86 tongue of 82 88 teeth on 74 90 first pawl pivotallymounted between 72 and 64 92 second pawl on 64 94 stationary nut of 6896 elongated threaded rod of 68 98 rotating structure of 68 on 96 100bolt head for 98 102 open end wrench 104 socket head for 98 106 ratchetsocket wrench 108 handle rod for 98 110 rear chamber of 68 in 64 112inlet port of 110 114 transverse drive plate of 68

The apparatus 22 for charging the pressurized system 24 comprises alubricant canister 26. A facility 28 is for fluidly coupling thelubricant canister 26 to the pressurized stem 24. An assemblage 30 isfor forcing lubricant 32 out of the lubricant canister 26, through thefluidly coupling facility 28 and into a service valve 34 of thepressurized system 24.

The lubricant canister 26, as shown in FIGS. 1, 4, 5, 13, 15, 17 and 20includes a tubular casing 36 for holding the lubricant 32 therein. Athreaded nozzle 38 is integral with and extends out from a first end ofthe tubular casing 36, to engage with one end of the fluidly couplingfacility 28. A recessed double O-ring piston 40 is inserted within anopen second end of the tubular casing 36, to engage with the lubricantforcing assemblage 30.

The tubular casing 36 can be fabricated out of transparent material 42and can include a plurality of gradient markings 44, to aid inaccurately dispensing a predetermined amount of the lubricant 32therefrom. The lubricant canister 26 further includes a threaded cap 46,as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, to engage with the threaded nozzle 38 whenthe lubricant canister 26 is not in use, so as to prevent leakage of thelubricant 32 through the threaded nozzle 38.

The fluidly coupling facility 28, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6 through 11,is a connector assembly 47 having a first end connected to the threadednozzle 38 of the lubricant canister 26 and a second end connected to theservice valve 34 of the pressurized system 24. The connector assembly 47consists of a flexible conduit 48. A threaded fitting 50 is on the firstend of the flexible conduit 48, to engage with the threaded nozzle 38 ofthe lubricant canister 26. A release valve 52 is on the second end ofthe flexible conduit 48, to engage with the service valve 34 of thepressurized system 24.

The connector assembly 47 further includes a one-way check valve 54between the threaded fitting 50 and the first end of the flexibleconduit 48, which prevents any material from back flushing into andcontaminating the lubricant 32 in the lubricant canister 26. The releasevalve 52 contains a closeable control knob 56, which prevents anymaterial from back flushing into the flexible conduit 48 from theservice valve 34 of the pressurized system 24, and allows the releasevalve 52 to disconnect from the service valve 34 of the pressurizedsystem 24, to prevent leakage of the lubricant 32 therefrom.

The release valve 52 in FIGS. 1, 6, 7 and 8, includes a snap lockfitting 58 to engage with the service valve 34 of the pressurized system24. The release valve 52 in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11, includes a threadedfitting 60, to engage with the service valve 34 of the pressurizedsystem 24.

The lubricant forcing assemblage 30, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and 12 to20, is an injection device 62. The injection device 62 contains ahousing 64 having a receptacle portion 66, to receive the lubricantcanister 26 therein. A drive mechanism 68 forces the recessed doubleO-ring piston 40 into the tubular casing 36, to cause the lubricant 30to exit the threaded nozzle 38 through the fluidly coupling facility 28,past the service valve 34 and into the pressurized system 24.

The drive mechanism 68 in FIGS. 1 to 3, includes a hand grip 70 integralwith and extending downwardly on the housing 64. A trigger 72 ispivotally mounted to the housing 64 adjacent the hand grip 70. A centraldrive shaft 74 extends longitudinally through the housing 64 andtransversely past a pivotal portion of the trigger 72. A cylindricalhead 76 is on an inner end of the central drive shaft 74, to engage withthe recessed double O-ring piston 40 of the lubricant canister 26.

A first pawl 78 is spring biased at 80 on the central drive shaft 74forward the pivotal portion of the trigger 72. A second pawl 82 isspring biased at 84 on the central drive shaft 74 rearward the pivotalportion of the trigger 72. The second pawl 82 has a tongue 86 extendingout through a rear wall of the housing 64 above the hand grip 70. Whenthe trigger 72 is squeezed the first pawl 78 will move into contact withthe central drive shaft 74, to push the central drive shaft 74 forwardwith the cylindrical head 76 making contact with the recessed doubleO-ring piston 40. The second pawl 82 prevents reverse movement of thecentral drive shaft 74, until the tongue 86 is lifted up to disengagethe second pawl 82, allowing the central drive shaft 74 to be pulledback to a desired position.

The drive mechanism 68 in FIGS. 12 to 15, includes a hand grip 70integral with and extending downwardly on the housing 64. A trigger 72is pivotally mounted to the housing 64 adjacent the hand grip 70. Acentral drive shaft 74 extends longitudinally through the housing 64 andtransversely above a pivotal portion of the trigger 72. The centraldrive shaft 74 has a plurality of teeth 88 extending therealong. Acylindrical head 76 is on an inner end of the central drive shaft 74, toengage with the recessed double O-ring piston 40 of the lubricantcanister 26.

A pawl 90 is pivotally mounted between the pivotal portion of thetrigger 72 and the housing 64. When the trigger 72 is squeezed, the pawl90 will move into contact with the teeth 88 on the central drive shaft74, to push the central drive shaft 74 forward with the cylindrical head76 making contact with the recessed double O-ring piston 40. As bestseen in FIGS. 13 and 14, the drive mechanism 68 can include a secondpawl 92 spring biased in the housing 64 to make contact with the teeth88 on the central drive shaft 74 forward the first pawl 90, to preventreverse movement of the central drive shaft 74.

The drive mechanism 68 in FIGS. 16 to 19, includes a stationary nut 94mounted vertically within a rear wall of the housing 64. An elongatedthreaded rod 96 extends longitudinally through the stationary nut 94. Acylindrical head 76 on an inner end of the elongated threaded rod 96engages with the recessed double O-ring piston 40 of the lubricantcanister 26. A structure 98 on an outer end of the elongated threadedrod 96 is for rotating the elongated threaded rod 96 through thestationary nut 94 and moves the elongated threaded rod 96 with thecylindrical head 76 forward, to make contact with the recessed doubleO-ring piston 40.

The rotating structure 98 in FIGS. 16 and 17, is a bolt head 100, whichcan be turned by an open end or box wrench 102. The rotating structure98 in FIG. 18, is a socket head 104, which can be turned by a ratchetsocket wrench 106. The rotating structure 98 in FIG. 19, is a handle rod108 extending transversely through the outer end of the elongatedthreaded rod 96, which can be turned by a hand of a person.

The drive mechanism 68, shown in FIG. 20, includes a rear chamber 110formed within the housing 64 and has an inlet port 112 to allowcompressed gas to enter the rear chamber 110. A central drive shaft 74is carried longitudinally within the tubular casing 36 of the lubricantcanister 26. A cylindrical head 76 is on an inner end of the centraldrive shaft 74, to engage with the recessed double O-ring piston 40. Atransverse drive plate 114 is on an outer end of the central drive shaft74 within the tubular casing 36 adjacent the rear chamber 110. When thecompressed gas is introduced through the inlet port 112 into the rearchamber 110, the transverse drive plate 114 will push the central driveshaft 74 forward with the cylindrical head 76, to make contact with therecessed double O-ring piston 40.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together may also find a useful application in other types ofmethods differing from the type described above.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown anddescribed are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended tobe limited to the details y above, since it will be understood thatvarious omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the formsand details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be madeby those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spiritof the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,readily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.

What is claimed is new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims:
 1. A canister for charging a closed,pressurized air conditioning or refrigeration system with a fluid,comprising: a) a closed, non-pressurized cylindrical canister, whereinsaid canister has two ends, a first open end which connects to thesystem being charged and a second open end, and wherein said first openend comprises a nozzle; b) a predetermined amount of said fluid, whereinsaid fluid comprises a lubricant and a fluid dye for said airconditioning or refrigeration systems, and wherein said fluid ismaintained in said canister at about ambient pressure; and c) a pistonsealably disposed with said second open end of said canister, whereinsaid canister is adapted to sealably and releasably connect to saidpressurized air conditioning or refrigeration system via fluidlycoupling means to form a closed binary system, wherein said fluidlycoupling means is a connector assembly having a first end connected tosaid nozzle of said canister and a second end connected to a servicevalve of the pressurized system, wherein said connector assemblycomprises: i) a flexible conduit, ii) a thread on a first end of saidflexible conduit, to engage with said nozzle of said canister, and iii)a release valve on a second end of said flexible conduit, to engage withthe service valve of the pressurized system, and wherein said connectorassembly further comprises a valve at one end of said flexible conduit,which prevents any material from back flushing into and contaminatingsaid fluid in said canister.
 2. The canister of claim 1, wherein saidcanister is fabricated out of transparent material and includes aplurality of gradient markings; and wherein said nozzle is threaded. 3.The canister of claim 2, wherein said first open end comprises athreaded cap for engagement with said threaded nozzle.
 4. The canisterof claim 1, wherein said piston further comprises an O-ring.
 5. Thecanister of claim 1, wherein said piston further comprises a recesseddouble O-ring.